Dom's Conscious Closet

As much as I love solid earth tone colors, I can not get away from being vibrant and colorful. Learning more and becoming increasingly connected to my ancestral roots, means that colors play a special part in my identity and livelihood. Mixing prints and solid makes me feel alive, sophistical, bold and ready to take on the world!

A basic tee-shirt should NOT be $50, $60 nor $70, and this is the first line that needs to be drawn in making sustainable fashion affordable and accessible. No matter your geography, style sensibility or ethnic background - a basic white (black or grey) tee shirt is more than likely a staple part of any wardrobe.

This is the perfect place to start your sustainable fashion journey when you’re ready and able to take that first step in purchasing something new.

Most people don’t know the basic lifestyle of a tee shirt. The material phase alone includes farming, irrigating, fertilizing, harvesting and ginning. Understanding the time it takes just to make a tee but also the waste that’s created when using conventional cotton will make buying that first sustainable tee extra special.

One brand we love has a mantra of “accessible-luxury”. Truth Alone Clothingis a basic tee brand specializing in Peruvian Organic Pima Cotton, as well as Peruvian Sourcing & Production. They work to keep everything as local as possible, from raw material to finished product, but their our photography, stylists, models, and locations are also Peruvian. “We believe in giving back to a culture that puts so much love into everything they do, and that’s the truth.”

I've worn this dress once before ... but of course part of being sustainable is wearing it again! (See previous feature). I love the quality, simplicity and most of all the women behind this ethical brand. Chan & Krys make sure great fluid pieces that you can keep forever and still pass down to your next of kin.

"Our loungewear speaks to the brand mantra because it is especially curated for the modern sexy meditator. Our whole vibe is creating a space for meditators that don’t fit the traditional idea of what it means to meditate. You don’t have to be boring, or draped in Indian garb. You can be your chic sexy self, and have a meditation practice! Our Sacred Loungewear offers pieces that you can meditate and chill in, while feeling comfy and sexy." - Tiffany Shelton, The Conscious Life Shop

Conventional dye are extremely toxic for the artisan, the consumer and the environment. Residuals from the textile manufacturing and dyeing process are of the most toxic industrial products that filter into our oceans. There's so much toxic runoff that goes into our water ways that ultimately cycles back to human consumption.

Using plants instead of synthetic dyes supports products that cycle right back to the earth. It literally eliminates a whole toxic process that completely changes the narration of fashion production.

Although there are levels to natural dye, much like anything else, walking in that direction is better than not. Let's support brands that are connected more to the earth and are healthy for your skin. We begin to create habits where we invest in more meaningful processes and start to create connections!

Sustainable Sneakers are literally the coolest thing since ... sliced bread! I got the opportunity to partner with KIN Shoes. This Italian brand has men's and women's shoes that feature 1) recycled rubber/ plastic outsole, 2) fully degradable textile inner and 3) upper and KIN logo made from eco-tanned leather. They focus on 100% ethical slow production ethos including facilities that are aimed at minimizing waste, upcyling unused materials and donating 10% of each purchase to selected NGO's.

Many people many assume that sustainable sneakers don't have character but these definitely do. I have the orange pair called "The Tropico", and I find I'm able to put them together with so many outfits. Their funky design are only for the bold, brilliant and unapologetically badass. I love the fact that this brand took the time to come up with a unique and truly original design that doesn't look like other conscious kicks. They are super comfortable and feel really well made! I strongly believe that sneakers - more than any other shoe style - should be made with integrity and should last several years. There's no doubt in mind that they suckers are built to withstand my running around in nature and throughout the streets of NYC. I'm thrilled to have these babies part of my sustainable style wardrobe collection.

I just don't think you can go wrong with an all black swim suite. A backless one piece that hugs your hips is so sexy but also a classic. I'm absolutely in love with my UND one piece! UND Swimwear is a 360° sustainable and ethical brand: all of their swimwear is made with recycled fabrics in Rimini, a small town by the sea in Italy. The label was created respecting the highest quality standards and all of the principles of slow fashion.

I'm finally excited about farmer market season now that Spring is in full bloom. Shopping at farmer's markets, local grocers and Trader Joe's are my top places to invest in healthy food options.

Especially with the weather nice there are two "must do's" on my list when I'm grocery shopping: 1) dress comfortably cute and 2) bring my own reusable shopping bag and/or produce bag. The amount of single serve plastic that's wasted during grocery shopping is astounding. I've particularly been loving the bagE Pack,which consists of a washable reusable shopping tote Bag and Set of 3 premium reusable mesh produce bags.

I know it's Earth Month, but to me every month is Earth Month! It's extremely important that we start to make better environmental decisions that become part of our lifestyle. And I'm going to continue to use and support brands who invest their time and energy in the triple bottom line: people, planet & profit.

I've been slowly transitioning my wardrobe to a more monochromatic vibe. As I continuously evolve as a person, I'm starting to fall in love with the elegance and beauty of simplicity (with pops of pattern). However, from time to time I get back to my roots of loving to mix and match prints when I'm feeling bold and daring.